San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-12-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(frcm Our Regular Correspon dent

WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1887.
The Democratic policy, as declared
by Speaker Carlisle and emphasized
in the excellent message of President
Cleveland, makes it certain that tar
if revision is only question of a
very short time, the only doubt being
as to what methods should be employ
ed to effect such Legislation. MIR
Cleveland's tariff manifesto is evident
ly his most popular and practical ut
terance, for it has taken the Demo
cratic portion Of Congress by storm
there being but few dissentin q
voices, while it is clear from the
guarded expressions of Republican
Congressman, that there is imminent
danger of the disintegration of that
party, now that it is compelled to
take an unequivocal position on the
one vital issue Of the times.
Mr.. Blaine's defiant deliverance on
the message, as flashed from France,
is taken in the capital as virtually q
personal announcement that the man
from Maine is willing to enter the
lists as the advocate of high pro-
tective tariff against his old adversary.
1t is further believed that Blaine has
shrewdly scored two important pre-
liminary victories over his Republican
competitors for the Presidential nom
ination-in being the first to roundly
condemn the message, and in having
the National Republican Convention
again called to meet at Chicago, the
scene of his former triumph. Sher-
mans friends favored Cincinnati,
Allison's Minneapolis, and Hawley's
Philadelphia.
There was great Republican pow
WOW last week at the meeting Of the
Republican National Committee In
this city, many statesmen of national
renown being present several OF whom
made speeches. One admission, in
advertently made by Ex-senator
Window, of Minnesota, is worth quo
ting. He said that if the Democrats
were successful next year, the Demo
Gratis would probably continue in
power fifteen or twenty years. Most
Democrats endorse this prognostica-
lion.
Those who had expected to witness
exciting or sensational scenes at the
organization of the Fiftieth or Cen
tennlal Congress-, were greatly dlssap :
pointed, as there was nothing unusual,
except harmless outbreak from a
religious crank in the gallery. who
aroused the risibilities of the vast
throng by singing the doxology IN a
doleful solo. In both the Senate and
House there seemed to have fallen
showers of fragrant and radiant flow
ers, fresh from rosy gardens OF bloom
and beauty. 1t was pleasant sight
to see the beaming faces of the favor
ed statesmen Us they gratefully smiled
over the gifts of admiring friends,
But very many Of the veteran Con-
gressmen were saddened as they
sought in vain for the familiar coun-
tenances of numbers Of their late
colleagues, whose public careers had
ended, at least temporarily. Among
the missing we're 125 from the House
two thirds of the chairmen OF com
mittees being included in the list.
Those conspicuous for absence in the
House were Morrison, Lowering, War
ner, Welltorn, Bragg, and Barksdsle,
and from the Senate Camden, Maxey,
Malone, Conger, and "Woodpulp
Miller.
Last week only brief sessions OF
Congress were held, and little real
work can be done until the commit
tees are appointed; the Senate ON
mittees will be announced this week,
but owing to the much greater diff
Guilty of organizing the House Com
mittees, it is doubtful whether they
will be announced before the holiday
season.
Since I last wrote you the President
has sent to the Senate the long ex
pected nominations for the Supreme
Court and the Cabinet, and it is
thought they will be easily confirmed,
though there are rumors of opposi.
ton to Mr.. Lamar and MIR. Villas.
The Supreme Court rendered two
important decisions last week, re-
versing U. S. Judge Bond in the
Virginia coupon cases-a notable
triumph for States right, and affirm
ing the constitution atty of the Kan
sas prohibitory lava great victory
for the Prohibition party, and any
thing but an acceptable verdict to the
Republican party.
Mr.. Randall is carefully preparing
bill of revenue reduction and tariff
reform, looking to a sixty million
dollar cut in taxation-the amount
to be about every divided between
the tariff and internal taxes. 1t is the
purpose of the Pennsylvania states
a. a Il - usua